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Apprenticeship Levy a ‘lose lose’ scenario Dame Judith Calls For Urgent Government Rethink
A senior industry figure has called upon the Government to rethink the Apprenticeship Levy – which has turned a win-win scenario to a ‘lose-lose’.
Dame Judith Hackitt, DBE, FREng, FIChemE, FCG, Chair of not-for-profit Semta which is tasked with skilling engineering and advanced manufacturing, was addressing numerous captains of industry at the prestigious Semta Skills Awards in London.
During her speech she said that the new system, which finances apprenticeships, needed urgent radical reforms to reverse the ‘collapse’ of new start apprenticeships.
“We are not asking for the levy to be scrapped but it does need a rethink if it is to achieve what we all want and what the UK needs for the future.
“We have seen the number of new starts collapse with many companies postponing or halting apprenticeships. What should have been a win-win has become a lose-lose.
“To train the talented individuals we are going to see here tonight costs more that £27,000. Providers are reluctant to offer courses, which cost more than the cap, so there is a need to recognise the true cost of different types of apprenticeship not have one simple cap.
“There needs to be greater flexibility for employers and providers to agree payment schedules especially in sectors like ours where upfront costs are high.
“The expiry date of funds needs to increase – an average engineering apprenticeship takes 48months.
“The rules on transfer of unused levy need to be relaxed – moving the current cap at 10% to 50% would stimulate Levy funds being used across supply chains.
“The levy should be used for what is says on the tin- Apprenticeships, without dilution to fund other training schemes.
“And the process of approval of apprenticeship standards must be streamlined. We know that the IFA has taken time to set up, but if we are to achieve the momentum we need on apprenticeships we cannot have the delays and deferrals, which we have been seeing.
“We all need to work together to make this as easy to implement as possible, not create unnecessary obstacles when we all want the same thing – more and more young people taking up apprenticeships.
“These conversations need to continue elsewhere – and urgently.”
66 drain TRADER | April 2018 |
Dame Judith told those attending the ceremony that nominees and winners of Semta Skills Awards should be celebrated by the sector - and were icons of their generation.
Full list of winners:
APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR (sponsor MBDA UK Ltd) Winner: Judith Mair, Rolls-Royce Runners up: Joe Alistair Kennie, Yamazaki Mazak UK Ltd and Jay Ahmed, Ryder Ltd
HIGHER APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR (sponsor The Education & Training Foundation) Winner: Thomas French, KMF Group Ltd Runners up: Rebecca Fisher, Rolls-Royce and Shannon Lynch, Jaguar Land Rover
SKILLS CHAMPION OF THE YEAR (sponsor BAE Systems Plc.) Winner: Paul Fitzpatrick, Toyota Manufacturing (UK) Ltd Runners up: Jayne Little, Skills 4 Ltd and Michelle Nolan-McSweeney, Network Rail
SKILLS INNOVATION OF THE YEAR (sponsor Siemens) Winner: Sharing in Growth Runners up: Harlow Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering Centre (HAMEC) and Robot Training Platform – Jaguar Land Rover in Collaboration with ABB and BlocDigital
TRAINING PARTNER OF THE YEAR (sponsor Rolls-Royce plc) Winner: City College Plymouth Runners up: Coleg Cambria and Babcock International Group in partnership with Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
SME INVESTMENT IN SKILLS (sponsor Jaguar Land Rover) Winner: Metalcraft Runners up: Lander Automotive Ltd and Superior Seals
TECHNICIAN OF THE YEAR (sponsor EAL) Winner: Andrew Franklin, Perkins Engines Company Ltd Runners up: Ethan Davies, Electroimpact UK Ltd and Rob Naylor, Lockheed Martin UK
DIVERSITY IN ENGINEERING (sponsor Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions) Winner: Siemens Rail Automation Runners up: Babcock International Group and Transport for London
www.draintraderltd.com Dame Judith Hackitt
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